OK, up next is a handful of images from the Penhallow book, again grouped with other pics from then and now where possible, just for fun and comparison.

First, just to have the map handy, here's what uncle trav posted over on another thread

Quote:

On 2008-07-20 16:29, uncle trav wrote:I don't think a good look at the resort map has been posted yet so here it is in two parts.

So, from the Penhallow book, here's the Lagoon Dining Room

After a flood in 1955

For comparison, here's 2012

Carrying tables out of the dining area after a flood

Similar angle in 2012

Larry Rivera (paddling on the REGULAR lagoon - this one is NOT in the dining room during a flood)

Mitzi Gaynor while the cast of South Pacific was staying there during filming in 1957

One of the Queen's Cottages, with Grace Guslander out front

Chef Tokuda and the firepit

This is a crop of a larger two-page photo of the lobby and receiving area

bongofury posted a pic with the full spread from the book, in this topic about the Penhallow book

Quote:

On 2008-02-27 19:21, bongofury wrote:

For comparison, here's the postcard view DC posted

Quote:

On 2011-01-21 17:54, Dustycajun wrote:

And again in 2012 - you can see the tower platform is still there, but no tower

Inside the lobby

Similar angles now. First Primo Kimo's great shots from 2008...

Quote:

On 2008-08-03 14:23, Primo Kimo wrote:

And a couple of my 2012 pics

And here's the famous Robert's postcard posted by bigbro, looking the other way in the lobby from those steps

Quote:

On 2009-01-04 21:28, bigbrotiki wrote:

Here's the Coconut Palace (which we didn't get to see on our visit), first from the outside

DC posted a nice postcard view of the same vicinity (I can't tell what matches what though)

Quote:

On 2011-01-21 17:54, Dustycajun wrote:

The back of the card states that the buildings include the Queens Audience Hall, the Coconut Palace Dining Room and Suite, and in the background the Chapel, Library, Museum and Prince of Hawaii Cottages.

Randy, thanks for posting these fabulous pictures, you are so lucky to have been able to go in and explore. I know I never get tired of these pictures no matter which angle they are taken from. There is something very serene about this place. Hope you have more for us.

Interesting pic of where the Oracle Tower used to be, in front of the lobby. It was later moved back by the lagoon, in front of the Queens Hall building, where it still stands today.

The last pic of the folder wasn't used in the rooms. They were actually made by the current owners to put sales materials in when they were going to redevelop in 2008 and sell condos. After the economy stopped that project they were put in storage, where there are now many cases of them. Hopefully (crossing fingers) they can be used in the future.

An recent op-ed which, interesting enough, prefers the Coco Palms in it present state:
"Hereís the thing. I donít want to see the place re-built. I know. I know. Itís not safe. There are public health issues. Crime issues. Itís a blight to the island. Blah. Blah. Blah. But there are rich stories that can only be imagined by standing in the ruins. Any renovation, no matter how respectful and exacting to the original kitschy Coco Palms designóthereís a GIANT faux clamshell hanging from the ceiling, for goodness sake--will eliminate the charm of the place that evokes such fond memories of a certain, bygone era of Kauai. The cleanliness and perfection of a re-built Coco Palms will jettison the use of our imagination, where these wonderful stories reside today. A re-built Coco Palms will be just thatóre-constructed. An imitation. Too much time has passed...."
http://www.outrigger.com/explore/hawaiian-islands/view-from-here-blog/2012/Sept/coco-palms-twenty-years-after-hurricane-iniki

An recent op-ed which, interesting enough, prefers the Coco Palms in it present state:
"Hereís the thing. I donít want to see the place re-built. I know. I know. Itís not safe. There are public health issues. Crime issues. Itís a blight to the island. Blah. Blah. Blah. But there are rich stories that can only be imagined by standing in the ruins. Any renovation, no matter how respectful and exacting to the original kitschy Coco Palms designóthereís a GIANT faux clamshell hanging from the ceiling, for goodness sake--will eliminate the charm of the place that evokes such fond memories of a certain, bygone era of Kauai. The cleanliness and perfection of a re-built Coco Palms will jettison the use of our imagination, where these wonderful stories reside today. A re-built Coco Palms will be just thatóre-constructed. An imitation. Too much time has passed...."
http://www.outrigger.com/explore/hawaiian-islands/view-from-here-blog/2012/Sept/coco-palms-twenty-years-after-hurricane-iniki

Whoa! Just watched South Park with my kids tonight and Coco Palms played a major role in the story. Some screen photos (my kids were wondering why I was pausing and snapping pics of the TV). They added Tikis and even had the ghost of Elvis!